ECHO and the Bunnymen have confirmed they will perform their first two albums live in Liverpool.

Following on from the success of their Ocean Rain shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the ECHO arena, the band have decided to play Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here, back to back and start to finish at the Olympia on West Derby Road.

Singer Ian McCulloch said: “We were looking for a venue as close to the Royal Court as we could find in Liverpool.

“When the Specials played the Olympia last year we realised it was the perfect place. It's not too polished, it's a bit rough and ready, and that's perfect for those albums. One night you might get cage fighting in there, the next you'll get the Bunnymen. That was exactly what we were looking for.

“There is no other band on earth who have two first albums like Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here.

“We recorded them both in a year, so we wanted to play them together as a masterclass in rock and roll.”

Crocodiles, released in 1980, includes songs such as Rescue, Villiers Terrance and All That Jazz. Heaven Up Here was released in 1981, and is still regarded as a fans’ favourite, with tracks including Over the Wall, It Was a Pleasure, A Promise and Heaven Up Here. It is one of Rolling Stone magazine’s top 500 albums of all time.

The two albums will be performed live at the Birmingham O2 Academy on December 4, Glasgow O2 Academy on December 9, London O2 Brixton Academy on December 9 and at the Liverpool Olympia on December 11.

Tickets are £25 and go on sale from Friday at 9am on 0871 220 0260 or online at www.gigsandtours.com.